U.S. patent number 7,780,003 [Application Number 12/274,477] was granted by the patent office on 2010-08-24 for dispensing system for double stack carton.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Graphic Packaging International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Glen R. Harrelson.
United States Patent |
7,780,003 |
Harrelson |
August 24, 2010 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ** |
Dispensing system for double stack carton
Abstract
The carton of this invention is capable of carrying the
plurality of containers stacked upon their ends in two tiers with a
unique dispenser that permits the dispensing of containers on their
sides. The dispenser is formed in a top side wall and extends into
the end wall with most of the end wall being torn open but leaving
a portion near the bottom side wall to prevent the bottom layer of
containers from rolling out. Angled projections in the dispensing
end of the carton near the top panel and bottom panel prevent the
top layer of containers from rolling out. A divider may be inserted
between the two tiers of containers to facilitate loading the
carton and preventing the containers from accidentally rolling out
when the dispenser is open.
Inventors: |
Harrelson; Glen R.
(Gainesville, GA) |
Assignee: |
Graphic Packaging International,
Inc. (Marietta, GA)
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Family
ID: |
32824568 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/274,477 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090065388 A1 |
Mar 12, 2009 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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11558717 |
Nov 10, 2006 |
7467713 |
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11139827 |
May 27, 2005 |
7134551 |
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10365148 |
Feb 12, 2003 |
6918487 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/427; 221/305;
229/242; 229/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
71/36 (20130101); B65D 71/34 (20130101); B65D
5/541 (20130101); B65D 5/725 (20130101); B65D
2571/00728 (20130101); B65D 2571/00141 (20130101); B65D
2571/00469 (20130101); B65D 2571/00574 (20130101); B65D
2571/0045 (20130101); B65D 2571/00401 (20130101); B65D
2571/00549 (20130101); B65D 2571/0066 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
75/00 (20060101); B65D 17/00 (20060101); A47F
1/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;206/427-429 ;221/305
;229/121-122,235,240,242,244 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Holley, Jr. |
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Primary Examiner: Gehman; Bryon P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Womble Carlyle Sandridge &
Rice, PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/558,717, filed Nov. 10, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,713,
which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/139,827, filed May 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,551,
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/365,148, filed Feb. 12, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,487, which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package comprising: a carton enclosing a plurality of
containers; the carton comprising: two ends including an exiting
end; four panels connected to the two ends, the four panels
including a first panel connected to a second panel the first panel
connected to a third panel, and a fourth panel opposite the first
panel; the first panel, the second panel, and the exiting end meet
at a first corner; the first panel, the third panel, and the
exiting end meet at a second corner; a first panel flap connected
to the first panel along a first fold line, a second panel flap
connected to the second panel, a third panel flap connected to the
third panel, and a fourth panel flap connected to the fourth panel;
the first panel flap, the second panel flap, the third panel flap,
and the fourth panel flap form the exiting end; a dispensing flap
at the exiting end; the dispensing flap including a first section
and a second section; the first section and the second section
being connected along the first fold line; the first section being
defined at least partially by the first fold line; the second
section being defined at least partially by the first fold line, a
first tear line, and a second tear line; the first tear line
extending at least partially along and collinear with a second fold
line; wherein the first section is defined at least partially by a
third tear line and a fourth tear line; the third tear line
extending from the first corner and the fourth tear line extending
from the second corner; wherein the dispensing flap extends from
the first corner to the second corner in the first panel and in the
exiting end; wherein the third tear line and the fourth tear line
converge towards each other from the first corner and the second
corner, respectively, to at least partially define the first
section; and wherein all the containers are retained in the carton
when the dispensing flap is separated along the first tear
line.
2. The package of claim 1, further including a pull tab formed in
the first panel.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein each container has an axis and
wherein the axes of said plurality of containers are arranged in
the carton parallel to the first panel.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the first section is detachable
along the third tear line and fourth tear line, and the second
section is detachable along the first tear line and the second tear
line.
5. The package of claim 1 wherein the third tear line does not
extend along the first fold line; and wherein the fourth tear line
does not extend along the first fold line.
6. The package of claim 5 wherein the first section extends from
the first corner to the second corner.
7. The package of claim 1 wherein the first section extends from
the first corner to the second corner.
8. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers are cans.
9. The package of claim 1 wherein the dispensing flap is capable of
being hinged along the second section.
10. The package of claim 9 wherein the dispensing flap is capable
of being detached from the carton.
11. The package of claim 1 wherein the dispensing flap is capable
of being detached from the carton.
12. The package of claim 1 wherein the second tear line extends at
least partially along and collinear with a third fold line.
13. The package of claim 12 wherein the second tear line extends
from the second corner along the third fold line; and wherein the
second section of the dispensing flap is detachable along the
second tear line.
14. A package comprising: a carton and a plurality of containers;
the carton comprising: four panels connected to two ends, the two
ends including an exiting end; the four panels including a first
panel connected to a second panel, a third panel connected to the
first panel, and a fourth panel opposite the first panel; the first
panel being connected to the exiting end along a first fold line;
the first panel, the second panel, and the exiting end meet at a
first corner; the first panel, the third panel, and the exiting end
meet at a second corner; a dispensing flap at the exiting end; the
dispensing flap including a first section and a second section; the
first section and the second section being connected along the
first fold line; the first section being defined at least partially
by the first fold line; the second section being defined at least
partially by the first fold line, a first tear line, and a second
tear line; the first tear line extending from the first corner at
least partially along and collinear with a second fold line;
wherein the first section is defined at least partially by a third
tear line and a fourth tear line; the third tear line extending
from the first corner and the fourth tear line extending from the
second corner; wherein the third tear line is not collinear with
the first fold line; wherein the fourth tear line is not collinear
with the first fold line; wherein the third tear line and the
fourth tear line converge towards each other from the first corner
and the second corner, respectively, to at least partially define
the first section; and wherein all the containers are retained in
the carton when the dispensing flap is separated along the first
tear line.
15. The package of claim 14 wherein each container has an axis and
wherein the axes of said plurality of containers are arranged in
the carton parallel to the first panel.
16. The package of claim 14 including means for facilitating
separation of the dispensing flap.
17. The package of claim 16 wherein the means is a pull tab that is
spaced from the first fold line.
18. The package of claim 14 wherein the containers are cans that
are positioned in rows and columns.
19. The package of claim 14 wherein the dispensing flap includes an
entirety of the first fold line.
20. The package of claim 14 wherein the first tear line extends
from the first corner.
21. The package of claim 14 wherein the third tear line extends
from the first corner to a means for facilitating separation of the
dispensing flap.
22. The package of claim 21 wherein the means is a pull tab.
23. A carton comprising: four panels connected to two ends; the two
ends including an exiting end; the four panels including a first
panel connected to a second panel, a third panel connected to the
first panel, and a fourth panel opposite the first panel; the first
panel being connected to the exiting end along a first fold line;
the first panel, the second panel, and the exiting end meet at a
first corner; the first panel, the third panel, and the exiting end
meet at a second corner; a dispensing flap at the exiting end; the
dispensing flap including a first section and a second section; the
first section and the second section being connected along the
first fold line; the first section being defined at least partially
by the first fold line; the second section being defined at least
partially by the first fold line, a first tear line, and a second
tear line; the first tear line extending from the first corner at
least partially along and collinear with a second fold line;
wherein the first section is defined at least partially by a third
tear line and a fourth tear line; the third tear line extending
from the first corner and the fourth tear line extending from the
second corner; wherein the third tear line is not collinear with
the first fold line; wherein the fourth tear line is not collinear
with the first fold line; and, wherein the third tear line and the
fourth tear line converge towards each other from the first corner
and the second corner, respectively, to at least partially define
the first section.
24. The carton of claim 23 wherein the dispensing flap includes an
entirety of the first fold line.
25. The carton of claim 24 wherein the first section extends from
the first corner to the second corner.
26. The carton of claim 23 wherein the first section extends from
the first corner to the second corner.
27. The carton of claim 23 wherein the carton encloses containers
and wherein all the containers are retained in the carton when the
dispensing flap is detached along the first tear line and the
second tear line.
28. The carton of claim 27 wherein the containers are cans.
29. The carton of claim 23 wherein the dispensing flap is capable
of being hinged along the second section.
30. The carton of claim 29 wherein the dispensing flap is capable
of being detached from the carton.
31. The carton of claim 23 wherein the dispensing flap is capable
of being detached from the carton.
32. The carton of claim 23 wherein the second tear line extends at
least partially along and collinear with a third fold line.
33. The carton of claim 32 wherein the second tear line extends
from the second corner along the third fold line; and wherein the
second section of the dispensing flap is detachable along the
second tear line.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an enclosed paperboard
carton capable of enclosing containers in two tiers, which carton
has a unique opening and dispensing feature that allows the
containers, for example, cans, to be removed or dispensed one
container per tier at a time without destroying the overall
structural integrity of the carton. The unique opening and
dispensing feature can be incorporated in cartons containing a
plurality of layers of containers stacked on end and still limit
the dispensing to one container per tier at a time.
2. Background
Fully enclosed cartons capable of enclosing cans have been used in
the past that have a feature for dispensing the cans one at a time.
Dispensers have been provided at various locations on these cartons
depending on the design.
Cartons have been introduced into the marketplace that can carry 24
or more containers, for example cans, in two stacks or tiers. So
far no satisfactory dispenser has been developed for dispensing the
layers of cans in these two stack cartons one at a time from each
stack or tier. Consequently, when these cartons are opened they
tend to let a number of the cans roll out which has not allowed
these twin stack cartons to achieve their full potential.
3. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,283 to Farquhar discloses a fully enclosed
carton having a dispenser for dispensing the enclosed cans. The end
wall of the carton has a dispensing flap which can be folded down
upon opening. An aperture formed by the flap extends into the side
walls to permit grasping of the can to withdraw it from the carton.
When the flap is opened, the cans are held in the carton by an
arcuate flap portion extending downwardly in the end wall into the
center of the aperture. The structural integrity of this carton is
compromised because the entire bottom end of the carton is opened.
It will be realized that the design of this dispenser is not
satisfactory for dispensing containers, for example cans, that are
stacked in twin stacks in a carton.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,509 to Holly, Jr. et al. also discloses a fully
enclosed carton with a dispenser in one of the end walls. This
dispenser is likewise formed in the end wall by tearing out an end
flap and lowering it into proper position. Expansion slits are
provided in the side wall for the user's fingers to grasp the ends
of the existing can. The dispenser of this carton is not
satisfactory for use in a twin stack carton for carrying
containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to develop a dispenser for
dispensing containers, for example cans, one at a time from a
carton containing containers in two stacks or tiers. It is the
further object of this invention to develop a dispenser that can be
easily opened. A further object of this invention is to develop a
dispenser that can be used for containers stacked in a 3 by 4
configuration in each stack to be dispensed one at a time from each
stack without the containers rolling out accidentally. A final
object of this invention is to develop a dispenser for a twin stack
carton that does not destroy the structural integrity of the carton
when it is opened.
Briefly described, in its preferred form, the objects of this
invention are achieved by providing an enclosed carton for carrying
containers in two tiers for dispensing the containers one at a time
from each tier from the exiting end of the carton. The carton is
generally rectangular and has a bottom, top, two sides, a closed
end and exiting end. The carton is foldably constructed from a
blank having panels and flaps. The carton is designed to carry
containers, e.g. cans, that are stacked on their ends in two tiers
from the bottom panel to the top panel. The dispenser is
constructed by providing tear lines in one of the side panels that
extend into the exiting end of the carton which is rested on the
other side panel, with the dispenser being capable of dispensing
the containers as they are resting on their sides. A tear line is
provided in the end of the carton placed from the side upon which
the carton rests while dispensing containers at a sufficient
distance to prevent any of the containers below the top layer of
containers from rolling out of the carton when the dispenser is
open. A pair of tear lines extend from this bottom tear line from
each end at an angle from the bottom tear line to the top side
panel in which part of the dispenser is formed. The angle and
distance of the projection is such as to restrain the top layer of
cans in each tier from accidentally rolling out. The dispenser is
constructed with a large enough opening in the top side panel in
which it is formed to permit a person to grasp and remove a
container in each tier one at a time.
This carton can be designed with a dispenser dispensing containers
in a 3 by 4 configuration in each tier. The bottom tear line is
located so as to prevent the bottom layers of containers from
rolling out of the carton. A pair of tear lines extending from the
ends of the bottom tear line are placed at an angle designed to
restrain containers in the top layer from rolling out of the
carton.
Because a carton for carrying 24 containers is placed under a great
deal of stress, the top panel can be constructed from two handle
flaps having a reinforcing strip attached to the inside handle flap
folded over against the inside of the carton between the two oval
handle apertures carrying the carton.
To facilitate holding the containers and dispensing them one at a
time a divider may be provided between each tier of containers.
To facilitate opening the carton dispenser, a pull tab can be
provided in the side panel where part of the dispenser is located,
with the pull tab being loosely attached to the panel, but tightly
attached to the dispenser for opening the dispenser.
Preferably the exiting end of the carton has four flaps for closing
this end. An end flap attached to the side of the carton on which
it is resting while the containers are being dispensed is generally
not removed and serves to restrain one or more of the bottom layers
of containers from rolling out of the carton. Preferably the tear
lines in the end flaps attached to the top panel, and bottom panel
are constructed so that a portion of each of these flaps is not
removed and are glued to the flap attached to the side panel on
which the carton rests during dispensing to preserve the integrity
of the carton.
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will
become apparent upon reading the following specification, when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank of the preferred embodiment of
this invention from which a carton is formed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the carton of the preferred
embodiment loaded with two tiers of cans in a 3 by 4 configuration
in each tier with a person starting to open the dispenser.
FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the carton with a dispenser
pulled part way open.
FIG. 4 is a perspective end view of the carton with cans in each
tier in a 3 by 4 configuration with the dispenser being opened
except for the bottom tear line.
FIG. 5 is perspective end view of the carton loaded with two tiers
of cans in a 3 by 4 configuration with the dispenser completely
removed but all the cans being contained in the carton.
FIG. 6 is a perspective end of the carton of FIG. 5 showing a
person removing a can from the top tier of cans.
FIG. 7 is a perspective end view of the carton of FIG. 6 showing
that a can has been removed from the top tier and from the bottom
tier of cans.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is intended primarily for use with cans of
the types used to contain soft drinks, beer and the like. The blank
10 is formed from a foldable sheet of material, such a paperboard.
The blank 10 has an outside handle flap 12 which is attached to the
top side panel 14 by fold line 16 which in turn is attached to
bottom panel 18 by fold line 20, which in turn is attached to
bottom side panel 22 by fold line 24. Bottom side panel 22 is
foldably attached to inside handle flap 26 by fold line 28. The
carton is supplied with a number of end flaps for closing the ends
of the carton. The outside handle flap 12 is attached to outside
top end flap 30 by fold line 32 and outside handle flap 12 is
attached to outside top end flap 34 by fold line 36. Top side flap
38 is attached to top side panel 14 by fold line 32. Top side panel
14 is attached to top side flap 42 by fold line 36. Bottom panel 18
is attached to bottom end flap 46 by fold line 32 and to bottom end
flap 50 by fold line 36. Bottom side panel 22 is attached to bottom
side flap 52 by fold line 32 and to bottom side flap 54 by fold
line 36. Inside handle flap 26 is attached to inside top end flap
56 by fold line 32 and to the inside top end flap 58 by fold line
36.
This carton has a pair of race track handles 60 and 62 formed in
outside handle flap 12 and inside handle flap 26 respectively.
Because this carton is designed to carry 24 containers, such as
cans, it is provided with a handle reinforcing flap 64 attached to
inside handle flap 26 by fold line 66.
A dispensing flap 68 is partially formed in top side panel 14 by
tear line 70. To facilitate opening this dispenser, a pull tab 72
is provided to facilitate opening the dispensing flap 68. The pull
tab 72 is loosely attached to top side panel 14. Pull tab 72 has a
slit 74 between it and top side panel 14 to ease pulling of the
pull tab from the plane of top side panel 14. Pull tab 72 is
attached to dispensing flap 68 by fold line 76. A slit 78 may be
provided in the middle of pull tab 72 to ease its removal from top
side panel 14.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the carton
of the present invention is generally symmetrical about a
horizontal line of bisection, as viewed when FIG. 1 is rotated
lengthwise. This symmetry aids in the efficient production of the
present carton.
In forming this blank 10 into a carton, the handle reinforcing flap
64 is folded along fold line 66 and glued to the inside handle flap
26. The blank 10 is then folded so that outside handle flap 12 is
glued to inside handle flap 26 so that the two oval handles 60 and
62 are parallel to each other. These steps result in forming a
carton sleeve in which cans can be loaded in the bottling plant.
The cans can be placed in two tiers of a 3 by 4 configuration. This
is best illustrated in FIG. 7 which shows the top tier 92 located
near the top of the carton and the bottom tier 94 located near the
bottom of the carton. In order to maintain the two tiers of cans in
proper alignment during loading and when dispensed to the consumer,
a divider 90 may be necessary. The divider 90 can be made out of a
single sheet of paperboard.
After the two tiers of cans have been loaded into the carton
various end flaps on both ends are closed and glued. To use the end
of the carton where the dispenser is located as an example, the top
side flap 42 is folded inwardly, bottom side flap 54 is folded
inwardly, bottom end flap 50 is folded in an overlapping position,
and glued to top side flap 42 and bottom side flap 54. Outside top
end flap 34 and inside top end flap 58 are glued together to form a
single top end flap which is likewise glued to top side flap 42 and
bottom side flap 54. The other end of the carton is closed in the
same manner.
When the dispenser is opened, dispensing flap 68, which includes
top side flap 42, is removed from the carton along with a portion
of outside end flap 34 and bottom end flap 50 along tear line 70.
In order to preserve the structural integrity of the carton after
the dispenser has been opened, it is important that end retention
panel 82 be glued to inside top end flap 58 which in turn is glued
to bottom side flap 54. Otherwise, the end retention projection 86
will not be firmly attached to carton. It is likewise important
that end retention panel 80 be glued to bottom side flap 54 in
order to ensure that end retention projection 84 is firmly attached
to the carton after the dispenser is opened.
It should be realized that dispensers could be placed on both ends
of the carton, but preferably it is only placed on one end. Cans
can be removed from the exiting end of the carton after tear line
70 has been torn. The pair of tear lines 70 converge towards each
other towards pull tab 72. Tear line 70 extends along fold line 36
between bottom end flap 50 and bottom, or second, panel 18 for a
distance D and turns at an angle B and turns again at angle A to
form a portion of bottom tear line 96. On the other side of top
side, or first, panel 14, tear line 70 extends to fold line 36 and
extends along that line and turns into the interior of outside top
end flap 34 at angle B until it turns to form bottom line 96 at
angle A.
The consumer can open dispensing flap 68 by inserting his or her
fingers into pull tab 72 which is an easy maneuver because of slit
74. In place of slit 74, a tear line that is loosely attached to
top side panel 14 may be substituted in lieu of the slit. Insertion
of the fingers into the aperture formed by depressing pull tab 72
is illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be noticed that the carton has
been turned 90.degree. so that it rests on bottom side, or fourth,
panel 22. Outside handle flap 12 and inside handle flap 26 form the
top, or third, panel. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the first panel 14,
second panel 18, and the exiting end meet at a first corner FC, and
the first panel 14, third panel 12, 26, and the exiting end meet at
a second corner SC. As shown in FIGS. 2-7, one of the pair of tear
lines 70 that converge towards each other extends from the first
corner FC into first panel 14 and the other of the pair of tear
lines 70 that converge towards each other extends from the second
corner SC into first panel 14. The consumer proceeds to pull pull
tab 72 upward which is connected by fold line 76 to dispensing flap
68 which is pulled up as illustrated in FIG. 3. Continued tearing
open of the dispenser is illustrated in FIG. 4. The dispenser is
opened along tear line 70 which extends on both sides so that the
dispensing flap 68 is torn open along fold line 36 and into the
interior of outside top end flap 34 and bottom end flap 50 as
illustrated in FIG. 4. The tearing continues down to the point
where tear line 70 forms bottom tear line 96 which has not yet been
torn as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 illustrates a complete removal of
the dispenser by tearing along bottom tear line 96. Even though the
entire dispenser has been removed in FIG. 5, the cans are retained
in the carton even though the cans are lying on their sides. The
bottom two layers of cans in the 3 by 4 configuration are prevented
from rolling out of the carton by bottom side flap 54 to which end
retention panels 80 and 82 are glued. It will be noticed that
bottom side flap 54 only extends part way up the diameter of the
cans in the second layer of the three tiers. The top layer of cans
in the two tiers is prevented from rolling out by end retention
projections 84 and 86. Tear line 70 only extends along fold line 36
a distance D which is slightly less than the diameter of the top
layer of cans being contained. This is sufficient to prevent the
top layer of cans from rolling out of the carton but yet not
prevent an obstacle to their easy removal by the consumer. Tear
line 70 turns at an angle B and then turns again at angle A to form
the bottom tear line 96 on both outside top end flap 34 and bottom
end flap 50. It will be realized that end retention projections 84
and 86 are helpful in retaining the top layer of cans in the
carton. The extent of this help depends upon the location of the
bottom tear line 96 in relation to the layers of cans C.
FIG. 6 illustrates a consumer removing a can from the top tier 92
of cans C. It will be noticed that the consumer moves a can by
twisting it slightly along its longitudinal axis and removing the
bottom end of the can C first as it easily slides along the divider
90. It is necessary to remove the can in this way as the top of the
can is retained in position by end retention projection 86. The end
retention projections 84 and 86 are important as it is desirable
that the cans in the top layer not roll out when the dispenser is
open. The divider 90 and end retention projections 84 and 86 are
designed to ensure that the top layer of cans adjacent the
dispenser not roll out accidentally. FIG. 7 illustrates a carton
with cans from each tier having been removed with the remaining
cans held in place.
Because the blank 10 is designed to carry 24 cans in two tiers, it
will be appreciated that the carton is heavy when loaded with cans.
It is preferred that the top panel be composed of an outside handle
flap 12 and an inside handle flap 26 and handle reinforcing flap 64
be utilized. In addition, stress lines 88 that are designed to
dissipate the stress posed by lifting the carton handle 60 and 62
can be utilized. It should be realized that the carton sleeves can
be glued together at other locations but is preferred to be glued
at the top panel.
It will be noticed that the tear lines 70 in top side panel 14
converge towards each other and extend away from fold line 36 to
provide a large enough opening when dispensing flap 68 is removed
to permit a person to grasp cans in the top layer in each tier near
the exiting end of the carton.
A carton for carrying cans is preferred that these containers have
ends that are of the same diameter as the body of the
container.
UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE DISPENSER OF THIS INVENTION
One of the unique features of the dispenser of this invention is
that it permits the easy dispensing of containers that are stacked
in two tiers. The carton is unique in that it carries the
containers in their upright position, but dispenses them when the
containers are on their side. Placement of the bottom tear line in
the dispenser will restrain all but the top layer of containers
from rolling out. An angled projection on each side of the
dispenser can be utilized to prevent the top layer of containers
from rolling out. The provision of a divider is important in
maintaining the configuration of the containers into two tiers
during loading and dispensing.
While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many
modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its
equivalents as set forth in the following claims.
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